Spring evolves a lot more slowly in the mountains than it does in the valleys.

We’re just getting used to the sight of green grass and budding plants emerging in our yards.

This morning, our new-found belief that summer might indeed come our way was shaken by a spring snowstorm.

In McCall, we woke up to falling snow, with 2+ inches already on the ground.

As luck would have it, this little blast of Winter asserted itself just as the plants built up enough courage to bare their leaves.

The spring bulbs had just worked up enough confidence to start reaching for the sky, when winter came and clipped their wings.

The tiny birds hunkered down, trying to figure out why their favorite new perches are suddenly so chilly.

Higher in elevation, the contrast is even more stark. Half-way up Goose Lake Road (Brundage Road), the green grass that was just starting to line the drive was completely covered in snow. I saw some trilliums popping out yesterday on this recently-brown hillside.

Now, the spring buds have an extra burden to carry.

The base area was, once again, completely blanketed in snow.

There was a full 5 inches first thing this morning!

Signs of springtime suddenly erased.

But just as quickly as it fell, it started to melt. You can see the signs of rising mid-mountain temperatures from the Bear Cam.

Before the clock struck noon, all that snow in McCall had melted away. The plants were freed of their frigid cloak. The birds shook off the short-lived chill. And we started to believe, once again, that winter might actually be on its way out.

– April